Radiator for 1972 Cutlass 350

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 7, 2014 | 08:20 AM
  #1  
Borry's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4
From: Norway
Radiator for 1972 Cutlass 350

Deleted

Last edited by Borry; Feb 23, 2018 at 12:53 AM.
Old Jul 7, 2014 | 08:30 AM
  #2  
s i 442's Avatar
Oldsmobile enthusiast
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 689
Your wasting your money on a $600 radiator, the Ebay ones for $239 work great.
If your car came with a 3 core then put one back because the top support is different than a 4 core.
Best bet is go to Autozone and order one that is close to original and it will work fine for years.
Old Jul 7, 2014 | 08:30 AM
  #3  
olds 307 and 403's Avatar
Out of Line, Everytime😉
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,971
From: Melville, Saskatchewan
There are a few good options. I have seen the 2 core Ebay rads for a bit more than $200. Griffin has their US made A/G body Dominator series rad with big dual 1.25" cores for under $400 in automatic from Summit. I am getting the F body version for my G body in manual trans for under $300. The A/G body rad is 2" too wide to fit my car, not sure why they say G body. The Ebay aluminum rads cool fair at best, I had a Champion 3 core and ran 190 with a 160 high flow thermostat on my 7.9 to 1 350. It ran more like 210 with my 8 to 1 403. I expect the Griffin to cool much better. More cores is not better but bigger tube size is the difference maker.

Last edited by olds 307 and 403; Jul 7, 2014 at 08:38 AM.
Old Jul 7, 2014 | 08:43 AM
  #4  
s i 442's Avatar
Oldsmobile enthusiast
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 689
Originally Posted by olds 307 and 403
Ebay aluminum rads cool fair at best, I had a Champion 3 core and ran 190 with a 160 high flow thermostat on my 7.9 to 1 350. It ran more like 210 with my 8 to 1 403.
You must have had problems somewhere else because with an Ebay radiator I can't get it to heat up enough.
Old Jul 7, 2014 | 12:00 PM
  #5  
olds 307 and 403's Avatar
Out of Line, Everytime😉
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,971
From: Melville, Saskatchewan
Two different motors? The G body has less air flow possibly but I say it is no great rad for cooling. Nice construction for the Champion. I have a leaking two core aluminum that out cooled it.
Old Jul 7, 2014 | 12:05 PM
  #6  
Fun71's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 15,310
From: Phoenix, AZ
Originally Posted by olds 307 and 403
More cores is not better but bigger tube size is the difference maker.
And more cooling fins per inch as that is where the heat is transferred to the air.
Old Jul 7, 2014 | 12:14 PM
  #7  
Fun71's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 15,310
From: Phoenix, AZ
Originally Posted by Borry
But I get a feeling after I have driven it that it is running a bit hot.
It gets really hot under the hood and the temp gauge is going a bit up and down depending on driving.
I think we need some more information before jumping into a new radiator purchase as there are other things that affect the cooling system.

Do you have a real temperature gauge on it? If so, what is it reading? We need to know how "hot" is "hot".
Also, what is the outside air temp?

What type of fan do you have - with or without fan clutch? You need to make sure the fan is pulling sufficient air across the radiator.

Do you have a shroud? This is also important for proper air flow.

For reference, I have no overheating issues during 115+ ºF summer temps with a fairly stock cooling system, and I doubt many folks out there are driving around in anything close to this kind of heat.
Old Jul 7, 2014 | 06:32 PM
  #8  
Fun71's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 15,310
From: Phoenix, AZ
OK, a new radiator it is, then. Be aware than new is not always better as some new radiators have fewer tubes per row and fewer cooling fins-per-inch, so the new radiator doesn't have the cooling capacity of the old radiator. Check the specs and ask what others have used to help you get a radiator that will do the job properly.
Old Jul 8, 2014 | 11:46 PM
  #9  
71 OLDS's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 699
put this in my 70 Supreme last year:

Summit 380457 3 core alum radiator with trans cooler – stock fan & shroud

radiatorACfanshroud_zpsd2f6d2a0.jpg

Works great and not too bad on the price ($300). If I run a 160* thermostat it won't go over that, same with a 180*. That's on the hottest summer day with the AC on and driving the car hard. Had to adjust the bottom mounts a little and "massage" the stock 3 core top. Nothing major.

Will work perfect for your set up.

Last edited by 71 OLDS; Jul 9, 2014 at 12:01 AM.
Old Jul 9, 2014 | 02:18 PM
  #10  
captjim's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,250
I wish I had written down the part number, but I used an aluminum radiator from a "P" series van, $100 new that worked great in my Skylark. Not a bolt in, but almost.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
oldspackrat
Parts For Sale
2
Jul 29, 2015 05:21 PM
Alex72cutty
Parts Wanted
2
Apr 21, 2015 10:30 AM
59Olds98
Parts Wanted
0
Aug 14, 2013 09:38 AM
g77rvd
Small Blocks
6
May 13, 2011 11:29 AM
dharlett
Parts For Sale
0
Sep 23, 2009 03:30 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:29 AM.